Tag: Andrade

Andrade Breaks Silence On WWE Status Reports

Andrade says the reports on his WWE status are true.

As noted last week, Wrestling Inc. exclusively revealed that Andrade requested his WWE release while backstage at the March 8 edition of RAW. It was later reported that he looked “absolutely miserable” while at the taping. This was revealed after Andrade dropped the “WWE” from his Twitter handle and removed WWE from his bio.

Andrade broke his silence on Twitter this morning and said the rumors are true. He said he does not know what the future holds, but he wants his dreams to come true.

“The rumors are true and I don’t know what the future holds but I want to make my dreams come true. thank you for giving me so much support these last days Los rumores son ciertos y no se lo que me prepara el futuro, pero quiero hacer realidad mis sueños. Gracias por tanto apoyo [folded hands emoji],” he wrote.

There is no word yet on if WWE has changed their mind on granting Andrade’s release request, but it’s been reported that he would not be released. He is still listed as a RAW Superstar as of this writing on the official WWE roster page. Andrade was not backstage for this week’s RAW but that is not unusual as he has not been backstage for most shows since taking a hiatus last year.

Andrade, who is engaged to be married to Charlotte Flair, last appeared on the WWE Draft edition of RAW in October of last year. He was taken out by “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt in his last appearance. He then took some time off to undergo a minor procedure after the Draft, but was never officially drafted to RAW or SmackDown. Andrade was scheduled to be out of action for around a month, but has not been seen since then. There were rumors of a return to WWE NXT or a possible RAW storyline with Charlotte, but nothing ever came of those rumors.

After strong runs in Mexico and New Japan Pro Wrestling, WWE signed Andrade to work NXT in November 2015. He made his in-ring debut in January 2016 at a NXT live event, and had a successful run on the brand until being called up to SmackDown in April 2018 as a part of the Superstar Shake-Up. He is currently a one-time NXT Champion and a one-time WWE United States Champion. Andrade last wrestled on the October 12 RAW Draft show, which was a loss to Angel Garza.

https://twitter.com/AndradeElIdolo/status/1372539679053074435

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Andrade Suspended For WWE Wellness Policy Violation

Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that United States Champion Andrade has been suspended by WWE for violating the company’s Wellness Policy.

Andrade – real name Manuel Oropeza – was told of the suspension yesterday morning. It’s unclear what substance he tested positive for at this time.

In an effort to write him off television for the next thirty days, the 30-year-old wrestler was disqualified from his match on Raw tonight due to interference from Zelina Vega. His opponent Humberto Carrillo then took him outside of the ring in a rage and hit the Hammerlock DDT on Andrade on the concrete.

As per usual, WWE is expected to announce the suspension on their corporate website.

As you’ll recall, Robert Roode and Primo Colon were suspended in December for violations of the company’s Wellness Policy. Roode has since returned to television. Primo has remained in Puerto Rico and claims his violation was for refusing to travel to the United States to take a test.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

 

UPDATE:

WWE has confirmed that United States Champion Andrade has been suspended for 30 days due to his first violation of the WWE Wellness Policy.

WWE issued the following today to confirm the suspension:

WWE® SUSPENDS MANUEL OROPEZASTAMFORD, CONN., January 28, 2020 – WWE (NYSE: WWE) has suspended Manuel Oropeza (Andrade) for 30 days effective immediately, for his first violation of the company’s talent wellness policy.

Andrade Wins WWE US Title At Madison Square Garden Live Event (Video)

WWE has a new United States Champion after tonight’s live event in Madison Square Garden.

Rey Mysterio defended the US title on Thursday night at the legendary venue in a match against Andrade. The finish of the match saw Andrade reverse a top rope splash, then hit his Hammerlock DDT finisher to clench the victory.

This is the first title win for Andrade since moving from NXT in April 2018.

The 30-year-old wrestler previously held the NXT Championship one-time, defeating Drew McIntyre for the belt in 2017, and held the title for 140 days.

Watch fan shot video of the title win during tonight’s MSG event below.

https://twitter.com/c_xx_vii/status/1210371946552209409

WWE confirmed the title change with an announcement on their website, seen below. It was noted that Andrade received tonight’s title shot due to his Gauntlet Match win on the December 16 RAW episode. As noted, that match ended with no clear winner after Andrade destroyed Humberto Carrillo on the outside of the ring. The other participants in the Gauntlet were Akira Tozawa, WWE 24/7 Champion R-Truth, Matt Hardy, and Ricochet. WWE has not mentioned any potential title shot for Andrade until tonight’s match at MSG, and Rey even defended the title against Seth Rollins on this week’s RAW.

Andrade captures U.S. Title by defeating Rey Mysterio at Madison Square Garden

Andrade claimed the U.S. Title with a victory over Rey Mysterio at a WWE Live! event at Madison Square Garden.

The former NXT Champion now begins his first reign as a United States Champion by defeating one of WWE’s most decorated Superstars. Andrade earned the title opportunity after claiming a brutal Gauntlet Match win besting Humberto Carrillo.

Catch the newly crowned U.S. Champion on Monday Night Raw at 8/7 C on the USA Network.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1210383122078093312

Sources: WWE, Pro Wrestling Sheet and Wrestling Inc.

WWE Tag Teams Splits Up, WWE Quietly Moves New RAW Superstars Back To SmackDown

WWE has apparently changed their minds on a few roster moves made during the 2019 Superstar Shakeup last week.

Andrade and Zelina Vega are now listed as SmackDown Superstars on the WWE website. They were moved to RAW in the Shakeup last Monday and Andrade picked up a non-title win over WWE Intercontinental Champion Finn Balor, who was sent to the blue brand the next night. Vega and Andrade had cut several promos on social media and video to warn the red brand that they were the new faces of the show.

It looks like Aleister Black could be going from RAW to SmackDown as well. Black, who is married to Vega, had been floating between shows since his call-up from WWE NXT, but he and partner Ricochet were confirmed for the red brand in the Shakeup last week. Black is now listed on the SmackDown roster on the official WWE website and his name has the SmackDown logo next to it. Ricochet is still listed for the RAW brand, so that tag team is apparently done.

Andrade and Charlotte Flair were one of the real-life WWE couples affected by the Superstar Shakeup, but that appears to have been rectified. Black and Vega were also kept together on the same brand, but the Black and Ricochet tag team appears to be done.

It will be interesting to see if the Andrade, Vega and Black roster changes are addressed on tonight’s RAW episode.

As we’ve noted, it’s believed that WWE United States Champion Samoa Joe will join the red brand on tonight’s show. Joe had been scheduled to bring the title to RAW on last week’s Shakeup edition of RAW but he was very sick, so sick that his segment was pulled from the show. WWE did not quietly announce Joe’s roster change as they did with other Superstars because they were saving it for tonight as they have an angle planned.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

UPDATE:

Cesaro has been moved to RAW. This means The Bar has split up as Sheamus appears to be staying on SmackDown Live

UPDATE: 4/23/19

It was revealed on 4/23/19 edition of SmackDown Live that, Jinder Mahal and the Singh Brothers has been moved to SmackDown Live.